#rivervale_lodge

Dagmar is sent home to the Lodge, to check on Tove & CJ. The hours in the hospital left her faded, but her color returns with the warmth of the bale.

Tove greets her right away, "CJ is asleep" She explains, "How's your dad?"

"He was asleep. Frank kicked me out."

"Everybody says it... the surgery went well? That he'll be okay."

"Good, the fact he's well," Tove kisses her daughter between the horns, a bit of glamour sparks along Dagmar "You need to rest I think?"

"Dagmar!" Connor comes barreling down the stairs. "I waited for you!"

"he did" A nod

"M'not tired... Connor, hey!" She opens her arms, inviting a hug.

WHAM into her side. "I wasn't even scared of the stinky man. May hit him with her HEAD." Obviously impressed.

"Stinky man? May?"

She hugs the pooka, scooping him up off his feet.

Tove sighs , yup, that secret is out "Yes. we had an encounter with a child of lilith"

"Connor, you were at the Barn?"

"Tove, I'm sorry I sent you... that I didn't explain... I..." She frowns. "Connor, you fought a vampire?"

"MAY?"

"He wasn't any child. He was a man. A stinky man. And a tough man. I bonked him right in the OUCH and he didn't even care."

"I was waiting for you to come home." He looks worried. "I was there when May came by, 'cept she brought Brownies which are my favorite, and they got dropped all in the dirt." ...."Are you mad?"

"I'm not mad. Too late to be scared or worried, right?"

"May arrived, I didn't know Conner was on the porch. Your squire called for help, and Oak came bounding. Zane showed up too.. apparently you gave him warning? And then Dirk and Anne Marie finished him off" Tove touches her daughter's shoulder "May is okay. We all are. Zane even helped ease her memories a bit"

She rubs her face and nods. "Okay."

"You must be starving" Dagmar's mom declares , also figuring a full belly will help her daughter sleep. mom's are sneaky that way

"Wish I'd taken off that asshole's head, not just his arm."

"Asshole? " Tove blinks then realizes "Ah yes."

Connor gives her a squeeze. "Your King Dad is okay?" He asks, worried. Surely he has been informed, but he wants to hear it from Dagmar."

"He will be. Symon's dad fixed him up, but he needs.. time.."

"He'll have plenty of time, 'cuz we're all on watch. Get it?" Connor peers hopefully up at Dagmar.

Her mouth tugs into a little smile at the pun. "Yeah, kiddo. And I'm glad YOU are safe, and helped keep my friend safe. Good squiring."

A chicken noodle soup awaits Dagmar. A comfort food to be sure

He straightens up proudly. "Eat the soup, I made it myself." Clearly not, but.. "May was really cool, you know. She didn't even get scared. The badman? He kicked Oak real hard but he got better. But May didn't get hurt at all. I hung him by his underwears when he tried."

"Nice!" She sets Connor in a chair before taking one next to him. "Maybe Tove will make a song about it."

"Thanks, Mom." She pulls the bowl closer.

"We all worked together to keep everyone safe." He nods. "That's the Shadowpaw way. And the Lodge learned from them, so they're pretty good at it."

"You're welcome, honey" Tove smiles despite the worry inside of her about her husband "Not sure any song I make can do your squire justice"

"Probably not, but worth a try."

She eats some soup. "You'll wanna go see him, for sure. Figured you could go, and I could stay outside and protect you."

"I can.... I can watch CJ when you go." He offers, with a small nod.

"I was thinking I'd go and you'd say here and watch and protect your brother" Her mom explains "I can take care of myself"

"He can even pull my ears if he wants."

"CJ is a mighty ear-puller..."

"Hopefully not too mighty, we want those ears attached" Tove smiles

She pokes at a noodle with the spoon. "I should go with you. Guard outside the room."

"We'll talk about it after you eat," Tove says, "I know you worry. I do too. But I can set fire to threats if need be"

"I know, but..."

"But I want to protect you."

"I know," She leans againnst her daughter who is already as tall as she "I want to protect you too"

"Hmph. Trolls."

That actually gets a chuckle out of her mother "We're frustrating sometimes. And frustrated often."

" You can stay and protect me! Protect me while we play Uno and eat popcorn."

He nods seriously to Dagmar.

"Well, we won't be able to protect anyone if we each don't get enough naps and snacks" Tove informs the lad but smiles a bit